Fun, healthy & budget friendly Easter Brunch

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I was asked to make up a fun, healthy and easy on the budget Easter Brunch, so here it is. Note: Everything can be made ahead of time, put in the fridge & served when you or your company are ready. The mini meat loaves & fish cakes can be made ahead of time & re-heated in the microwave. (Put the meat loaves on a paper towel or saucer to reheat & then quickly place them into cupcake papers before serving.)

Easter Brunch menu & tablescape decorations are:

Savory "fish" cakes, made with any plain regular or wheat free muffin mix (preferably organic) to which herbs like dill, parsley, basil & etc. have been added. (I borrowed the cast iron fish shape baking pan from one of my sisters, but any decorative cupcake/muffin pan will do.) Note: mini cakes like this turn out better if the batter is thinner like cupcake batter, so add a bit more liquid, if needed.

Mini meat loaves, your favorite meat loaf recipe & baked in cupcake pan. (I make mine with organic ground turkey. Due to a gluten intolerance, I also use leftover mashed potatoes, rather than flour or oats as a binder.) Make sure to oil the cupcake pan & let the loaves cool slightly before removing, otherwise they may stick or try to fall apart.

Crunchy sweet mini Bell Peppers are in the veggie bowl, seen with the mini meat loaves; however carrots, celery, or Grape Tomatoes are also good.

Favorite Deviled Eggs, however you make them.

Spinach, almonds & cranberries salad - the organic spinach was bought at a local grocery store. The sliced almonds & cranberries (both from reputable companies) were bought at a local dollar store.

"Psuedo Sangria" is a non-alcoholic drink anyone will love. This version is made with Bigelow Cranberry Hisbiscus Tea (any fruity non caffeine tea will work though). Follow the directions for making a pitcher full of hot tea. When tea has brewed the proper length of time, remove bags & slice two organic oranges & two lemons. Put fruit slices, with a handful of frozen strawberries, in the tea & refrigerate til chilled, then serve. (Honey, stevia, or any good all natural cane sugar can be added if needed.)

The 'fish dip' for the fish cakes & 'frosting' for the meat loaves is nothing more than organic Ranch Dressing. Organic Balsamic vinegar, for the spinach salad, is in the unique glass shaker bottle. (This bottle was an under $1.00 thrift store find.)

Tablescape decorations are: various plates & bowls from my cupboard. They don't all match, but give interest & more importantly, 'fit' the food I wanted to put on them. The beautiful Amberina Cakeplate the deviled eggs are on was borrowed from one of my sisters, as well as the charming wire chicken egg basket, along with the little yellow plastic chick eggs & colorful rubbery toys. The blue/green 'sangria' plastic pitcher was from Walmart; however, again, be creative with what you have.

The "Duck Flower Vase" (on cakeplate with deviled eggs) is a toothbrush holder I found at a local thrift store for 25 cents. This ceramic holder was thoroughly washed/disinfected & has a plastic plug in the bottom, so it won't leak. The beautiful Mini Dutch Iris & parsley are from my garden. ( You could also use silk flowers, twigs, or colorful straws in the holder.)

Table cloth: had been one of my Mother's. Old sheets, thin scarves, posters, placemats, & etc., also work well to protect your table & make clean up easy.

Blessings to you all for your patience while I've been so busy the past few months. I hope you all have a great Easter, in however you celebrate it. And, yes, new blogs posts will now be coming on a more regular basis!

In Your Cupboard, Good For You - Split Peas

Pease Porridge hot, pease porridge cold....either way, Split Peas are one of the most inexpensive super foods you can have in your cupboard.

Split Pea dishes are easy to make, either as a soup, dahl (sauce/dip), or even dessert (see below).

So what makes Split Peas so good for you?

Example: 1 cup of cooked split peas provides (approximately):
- 16 grams of protein
- 41 grams of carbohydrates (as starch & fiber)
- 16 grams of fiber (both soluable & insoluable)
- less than 1 gram of sodium
- low on the glycemic index (great for those wanting to lose weight or balance blood sugar levels)
- B vitamins
- both Magnesium & Potassium (high amounts of each, plus other minerals)
- lutein (important antioxidant for eye retina health & blue light absorption)

And another great benefit of split peas, they chelate (bind to) heavy metals (especially lead, mercury & cadmium) & help remove them from the body. Split peas also come in a variety of colors (yellow, red, green) which makes them a 'fun' food.

Example: I like to use yellow or green split peas for an everyday type of soup, red ones for dahl & green for a hearty soup to serve on Halloween. (I add whole small black pitted olives & thin/julienne strips of red pepper to the green Halloween split pea soup when it's ready to be served.)

Split Pea Soup can be made with any favorite recipe. Mine is simply done with organic split peas, cooked in organic chicken broth until the peas are alnost tender. Then I add diced organic celery, carrots, onions, garlic & spices like sea salt, pepper, & my favorite curry spice mix & finish cooking until the peas are soft (& the soup is medium thick) & the veggies are tender.

Some people also like to add cooked diced ham or bacon and so on. (Note: for those people who don't want to use salt in the cooking liquid, small pieces of Kombu seaweed will also help the peas cook better. It doesn't give a fishy flavor to the peas & it adds trace minerals.)

When the soup is done I like to top it with grated cheese & plain yogurt (plus sometimes a sprig of parsley or cilantro) & serve with toasted rice cakes/crackers. Other good toppings are Brewers or Nutritional Yeast (which adds more B vitamins & a slightly salty flavor), a sprinkle of ground Cayenne, sour cream, croutons, or cheesy popcorn.

Dahl is a Mid-Eastern dish, in which the split peas are well cooked & either mashed or put through a sieve so they have a smooth texture. Various spices/curry, tomato paste, etc., is added & it's either served as a dip or sauce, depending on the thickness one wants.

Split Peas have also been used for a 'sweet dish' (dessert) since before recorded history. People in the mid- east would sweeten the cooked peas & then add dried fruit, especially dates.

When Europeans were introduced to spit peas, both wealthy people & peasants would use them both as a main dish & a sweet treat. They quickly realized the peas were both nutritious & filling, & the gelling property of the peas made it easy to vary the texture of a dish, so it could be either everyday fare like a soup, or something special like a thick pudding.

Hence, the old 'Pease porridge hot, pease porridge cold, pease porridge in the pot nine days old.' (And no, I don't recommend eating nine day old food, even a dish made with split peas, unless it had been properly stored/frozen for later use.)

If you had Split Pea Soup as a kid & didn't like it, I suggest trying a different recipe, making it either thinner or thicker & amping it up with other spices, add-ins, toppings, and so on. As mentioned above, split peas are one of the best inexpensive 'healthy, good for you foods' you can eat.

Sources: www. wikipedia.org, www.fiberfoods.com, www.webmd.com, www.nutritiondataself.com

All rights reserved. All pages, blogs, and photos on this site are copyrighted and may not be stored, retrieved, copied, shared, or sold without express permission.

The information contained in this site is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure. Nor is it intended to replace the advice of your primary care provider. No libality is assumed by the author or editor for the use or misuse of any of the information contained herein.

In Your Cupboard, Good For You - Black Pepper

Piper Nigrum aka Black Pepper.

The wonderfully pungent spice so many of us have as a companion to salt. However, there is so much more to it, which makes it one of my most favorite spices and something I never leave home without. (It's always included in my First Aid Kit when I travel.)

Black Pepper is simply the unripe fruit of the Piper Nigrum plant (white pepper is the ripe fruit). Most sources list India, or Southeast Asia, as the original source where Black Pepper came from. Nowadays, Vietnam is generally given credit as being the largest producer of Black Pepper. This now common spice still accounts for approximately 1/5th of all spice trade, and can be found as whole peppercorn (for pepper grinders), an essential oil, and pepper spirit (natural flavoring).

Historically, Black Pepper was referred to 'Black Gold' due to it's usage as collateral and/or payment for other expensive trade goods. It's been said that it was used for everything from food preservation to the mummification process. (Black Peppercorns were even found in the nostrils of Rameses II!)

As Black Pepper made it's way around the world and into modern times, both it's use and the knowledge of it's properities have been greatly expanded. This ranges from using both the oil and spirit for everything from cosmetics to medicines.

Some of the more interesting uses are for: constipation, diarehhea, heart disease, tooth decay, insomnia, earache, congestion, sinusitis, arthritis and nerve pain. And, of course, Black Pepper spirit is also part of the Coca Cola formula. Other more cutting edge/medical uses are for: vitiligo (skin pigment/coloration loss), weight loss, stop smoking aids and cancer treatment. And in cosmetics it's generally used as an antimicrobial to prevent product contamination or irritation to other ingredients.

My most favorite ways to use Black Pepper are:
- as a spice, nothing beats it as a seasoning on fresh baked squash or potatoes.
- tea for congestion (couple quick grinds in a cup of hot water, let sit for 30 seconds or so, or until you see the yellowy black oil on the surface of the water, then drink.)
- remedy for food poisoning symptoms (like some other people, I can't take charcoal for indigestion/food poisoning symptoms & discovered Black Pepper works really well. Make tea, like above; however, if food poisoning symptoms don't begin to improve within a few minutes, seek immediate medical care.)
- remedy for sunburn, cuts, scratches, or scrapes (put fresh ground Black Pepper directly on area of concern and bandage lightly. It does not burn or produce a burning sensation. This is the reason doctors now suggest it topically for arthritis or nerve pain. Like anything else, if the sunburn, scratch, cut or scrape doesn't improve in a short while, or discolors around the edges or streaks show under nearby skin, seek immediate medical attention.

Again, like I said, Black Pepper has a long and varied history, which medical science and research continues to verify all the amazing properities it has; so for all the above reasons, it has a place of honor in my kitchen and First Aid Kit.

NOTE: Like any other spice, Black Pepper can, and does, lose it's flavor, odor, and potency due to evaporation. So keep it properly stored, or as much away from direct heat and light as possible. (A few feet away from the stove or on the table/island is better than right next to, or on, the stove.)

I can also be found at:
http://www.uberreiki.com (all things Reiki, including How To Photos & ongoing blog)
http://www.facebook.com/uberreikigirl
http://www.twitter.com/uberreikigirl
coming soon: Three Twisted Sisters Studio.com (unique/fun arts, crafts, & minerals)

Sources: www.webmd.com, www.wikipedia.org, www.indianetzone.com, and www.kew.org

All rights reserved. All pages, blogs, and photos on this site are copyrighted and may not be stored, retreived, copied, shared, or sold without express permission.

The information contained in this blog/site is not intended to diagnosis, prescribe, treat, or cure. Nor is it intended to replace the advice of your primary care provider. No libality is assumed by the owner, author, or editor for the use or misuse of the information contained herein.

Wheat Free Brownies, package mix

In Your Cupboard, Good (Better) For You - Wheat free Brownies

This box of wheat free brownie mix came from the local Walmart, and cost about $3.50 which is a bit higher than most brownie mixes. It's not organic, however there's no junk ingredients, like propylene glycol, artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners, or additives. (As seen in the photo of Nutrition Facts/ingredients.)

Like all brownie mixes, it does have a bit of sugar in it, so I made sure I ate some protein before I had a piece or two. (Of course 2 tblsp. of plain or chocolate protein powder could be added to the mix to neutralize some of the carb count, along with another (approx.) tblsp of butter, oil, water or milk to offset the dryness of the protein powder.)

I did add walnuts, but you could leave them out or add whatever you like, such as raisins, cranberries, etc. The first batch I made according to package directions & turned out fine, except a bit crispy around the edges. For the second batch I used a couple of big tablespoons of plain Greek yogurt (in place of the butter), and the third batch I used olive oil in place of the butter. These batches also turned out very well.

The best part was all three batches tasted like regular brownies! (I feel the price is a bit high; however it seems like all wheat free items are higher, even in health food stores. However, as a once in a while treat, it's not bad.) So if you are wheat sensitive, or have a friend or family member that is, and they miss having brownies, give these a try.


This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, treat, or cure any known or unknown disease.

All rights reserved. All blogs and photos on this site are copyrighted, and may not be stored, retrieved, copied, or sold in any form without express permission.

Stress Junkies

Are you a Stress Junkie? Do you have too much going on, or put pressure on yourself to get everything done? Being a Stress Junkie is kind of like those who are addicted (and/or co-dependent) to adrenaline highs, only to stress instead.

Recently, while working with some clients, and discussing this with my collegues, we realized this is seriously on the rise.

We all know what too much stress does; however many people aren't aware they're actually becoming so dependent on a stressful way of life, that they can't imagine, or live any other way. And before you know it, we've actually piled on more things, thinking or saying "It's okay, I can handle it..."

In fact, many of us can't, as is obvious by the rise in depression and the all time highs for diabetes, blood pressure and heart problems, and cancers. It's also a medical/scientific fact that cortisol (the 'death hormone') rises dramatically when we're under stress, especially from chronic/ongoing stress of any kind. Cortisol literally kills other (including healthy) cells, producing inflammation, free radicals, and toxins; which can, and does, produce a whole host of health problems.

Too much stress doesn't have to be physical, such as with an athlete or prolonged sitting; it can also be mental, emotional, spiritual, and energetic. All of which can, and do, produce a wide variety of related, and more importantly, non-related symptoms. So when you don't tell your massage therapist or energy worker, nutritionist, or doctor all your symptoms, it makes it that much more difficult to appropriately treat the cause and you, as a person.

Example: Get stressed and the body responds with high alert. Afterwards, our energy is decreased. We feel depleted and our senses and mind can't focus properly. We over-ride this by eating or drinking something, taking over the counter or prescription meds, or recreational substances. Or worse yet, we start a radically new diet or exercise program, or week-end activity to 'de-compress'. All the while thinking/saying it's to help with stress. Then we take on or volunteer for something else, because that new thing is going to lower our stress; so, sure - we can do a little bit more.

After our energy/alertness is drained again, we repeat this. I'm not saying any of these things are bad/wrong, just that if we address the source (the reason we have or need so much stress and/or the types of stress), many people would actually have more control in their lives - and less stress. Those who are beginning to kick the habit report feeling better on all levels - mentally, physically, emotionally, energetically, and spiritually.

We've all heard the many non-medical things we can do to alleviate stress, such as relax (easier said than done many times); get therapy of some kind (massage or energy work, counseling); take a hot shower or bath, meds and/or vitamins; and generally chill out (again, sometimes easier said than done).

And by now, you're probably asking what does this have to do with "In Your Cupboard, Good For You". A lot! (Nice lead-in, huh?)

One of the first things is Vanilla. Yes, real Vanilla Flavoring or Vanilla Essential Oil. Vanilla is a known relaxant and mood leveler. A small amount used in cooking, boiled in a small pot of water, dropped into the bath/footbath, or sprayed into the shower can really help. (I never recommend synthetic Vanilla or Vanillin, as synthetic scents/flavorings have exactly the opposite effect. While they may initially smell or taste okay, they can give even non-sensitive children/people headaches, sinus congestion, and/or produce sneezing or allergic reactions.)

Milk - any kind, animal, vegetarian, powdered, etc., can be very soothing. One to two cups per bath/footsoak helps relax the body, plus soften the skin. (Milks contain naturally occuring Tryptophan, an essential amino acid that helps relax the mind and body, and it's slight acidity smoothes the skin.)


Epsom salt: Epsom salt is actually Magnesium Sulfate, rather than sodium, and Magnesium naturally relaxes and helps detoxify the body.


Computer, smart phone, or phone book - to look up massage therapists, aromatherapy, health food stores, and doctors, if needed.

The following sources (both companies and people) are ones I suggest/recommend for these two important reason: quality and affordable prices. (I only make personal recommendations when I've actually received body or energy work from the person, and/or used their products on my own, and not by affiliation or payment.)

Wal-Mart - Yes, I know how some people feel about Wal-Mart, however their Spring Valley supplements are good quality for lower price.

Dollar Tree (or other Dollar type stores) - These stores carry a wide variety of products that can be used to help one relax, including cds of soothing music.

Super Supplements - both brick and mortar stores and on-line. While their on-line shipping can be a bit high, the very low prices of their products make up for it, plus they carry numerous brands, all related to health and well being.

Samara Botane - http://www.wingedseed.com (1-800-782-4532) Snohomish, Washington, owner Marcia Elston. This company offers the best certified Essential Oil and Aromatherapy products, plus they give an online and professional discount. I've been using this company's products for many years, and highly recommend them.

The Assembly of CEH - http://www.reikiranch.blogspot.com (1-360-748-4426) Non profit, in Chehalis, Washington, ran by Taylore Vance and her husband Roi Halse, (Reiki Masters and entrepreneurs) that teach Reiki classes and sell products, including related books, Magnesium Oil (for health and relaxation), and Silver Water (detoxifier, etc.) Their Mg Oil and Silver Water are two of my favorites.

Heart of Massage - Owned by Karen Donald, Licensed Massage Practitioner. Located in the Queen Anne part of Seattle, Washington, Karen is one of Seattle's best therapists. The name of her practice says it all. And I say this, not only because Karen's one of my best friends, I've also received body work from her. http://www.facebook.com/Karen-Donald

Carlson Method - Developed and owned by former massage instructor & student clinic supervisor, Scott Carlson, who's one of the best in person and at distant energy workers I know. Besides being a long time friend, Scott is one of my first and personal go-to people for energy work. Scott is on Facebook, with the Black Knight on war horse as his current profile photo.

Three Tree Wellness Center - Owned and operated by Shari Courtier and her partner Scott Carpenter, in Burien, Washington. They offer a variety of services at very reasonable prices, and I highly recommend them. I've had the privilege of receiving work from Shari, including Reiki, and she's really good! http://www.threetreewellness.com (1-206-257-4765)

And me, Pam Taylor, of course. I've been practicing, teaching, and writing about body/energy work, and health and well being for a long time. Besides my blog here, you can also find "how to" photos demonstrating Reiki, and other fun and interesting Reiki things on my web site. Plus I'm on Facebook, and Twitter.
http://www.uberreiki.com
http://www.facebook.com/uberreikigirl
http://www.twitter.com/uberreikigirl

NOTE: An essential amino acid, (such as Tryptophan) is one of the building blocks of protein. Humans can't make it in their own body, and have to get it daily from an outside food or supplement source.

This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, treat, or cure any known or unknown disease.

All rights reserved. All blogs and photos on this site are copyrighted, and may not be stored, retrieved, copied, or sold in any form without express permission.


The information contained on this site is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, treat, or cure. Nor is it intended to replace the advice of your primary care provider. No liability is assumed by the owner of this site, the author, or editor for the use or misuse of the information contained herein.

In Your Cupboard, Good For You - Baking Soda

Almost everyone has a box of Baking Soda in the cupboard, fridge, or laundry room. And I do as well, as Baking Soda is one of my 'must haves' for everything from cooking to first aid.

There are numerous web sites devoted to Baking Soda, all of which list what it is, what it's good for, and so on. For those who've never looked up any of this information, here's a little background.

Baking Soda is what's known as an alkaline chemical salt, which basically means it's really good at neutralizing things. This is why so many people use it as a deodorant, toothe paste, odor absorber, as well as to soak up oil spills on a garage floor or putting out oil/grease fires in the kitchen.

Since Baking Soda is a natural salt, it's not only 'green', it's also just abrasive enough to scrub out metal pots and pans, including copper ones, without damaging them. Plus it does an excellent job on dirty sinks and tubs.

'Bicarbonate of soda' (Baking Soda) has a long history as a remedy for reducing redness, swelling, and itching from bug bites/stings, hives, and rashes. It's also used as a natural treatment for reflux and indigestion.

Other popular ways to use Baking Soda are as a fabric softener, 'dry' shampoo, in science projects, mixed with salt to make ant repellent, and with a little help from vinegar, to clean out drains.

Baking Soda's most common usage, though, is in cooking. It acts as a leavening agent, which simply means it makes the dough or batter rise. And since Baking Soda is a neutralizer, it can be used to de-acidify foods like tomatoes. This simple thing is very helpful for those who like to eat acidic foods, but have indigestion or reflux afterwards.

My Mother was this type of person. From childhood til about her mid 40's, whenever she'd eat tomato soup, chili, or spaghetti, she'd get an upset stomach. Then she learned a neat trick that allowed her to enjoy them once in a while, and not feel bad later. The following recipe was one of her favorites.

Homemade Tomato Soup

2 - 3 tblsp. olive oil
2 gloves garlic (crushed)
1/2 c. diced onion
1/2 c. diced celery
1 tblsp. Baking Soda (see Note below)
2 lb. can of tomatoes (whole, diced, or crushed, see below)
2 - 3 c. milk (dairy or unsweetened plain soy, rice, or almond milk, see below)
salt and pepper to taste
2 tblsp. butter (optional)
toppings: plain yogurt, sour cream, grated cheese, or crumbled turkey bacon

Note: Omit garlic, onions, & celery for anyone who can't eat these, & instead season to taste with a low/no sodium soup or salad blend like Mrs. Dash.
Since Baking Soda is alkaline, too much can produce a 'soapy' flavor/taste, so you can start with as little as one teaspoon and increase as needed; however, less Baking Soda equals higher acidity.

Pour tomatoes (with any juice) into a medium sized bowl. Add Baking Soda, & stir to distribute it throughout the tomatoes. (If using whole tomatoes, cut or mash them up.) Within a few seconds the tomatoes & juice will begin to foam, as the Baking Soda starts to neutralize the acid. (This also keeps the milk from curdling when added to the tomatoes.) After 5 - 10 minutes the foaming will stop & they'll be ready to use.

Put olive oil, garlic, onions, and celery in 3 qt. pan on medium heat. Stir garlic, onions & celery while they cook til desired golden color or softness. Add neutralized tomatoes & juice, stir to mix. Carefully add/stir in milk (start with only 2 cups of milk & add extra only if soup is too thick). Turn heat down to simmer (stirring as needed to prevent scorching) and let simmer til soup is desired temperature. Season with salt & pepper, & add butter, if desired. Ladle into cups or bowls & top with your choice of yogurt, sour cream, grated cheese, or turkey bacon.

This recipe serves two to four people, depending on cup or bowl size, plus it can easily be halved, doubled, or tripled. Homemade Tomato Soup is great served by itself, as a little pick-me-up, or can be a main dish backed up by hearty sandwiches.


References: www.armandhammer.com, www.wikipedia.org, www.webmd.com, and www.bakingsoda.com

This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, treat, or cure any known or unknown disease.

All rights reserved. All blogs and photos on this site are copyrighted, and may not be stored, retrieved, copied, or sold in any form without express permission.


The information contained on this site is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, treat, or cure. Nor is it intended to replace the advice of your primary care provider. No liability is assumed by the owner of this site, the author, or editor for the use or misuse of the information contained herein.

In Your Cupboard - Good For You, Cinnamon

Just the name 'Cinnamon' immediately brings to mind it's warm sweet fragrance.

While Cinnamon has traditionally been used to flavor side dishes and desserts, modern research has also shown it to be antibacterial, antimicrobial, antiviral, a mood leveler, and blood sugar stabilizer.

Another unique property is that it enhances any sweetener. By adding a small amount of Cinnamon to a recipe, you can use less sugar, stevia, honey, etc., and the end results are still sweet tasting. And I like to use it to freshen stale air and drains and repel pests.

To freshen stale air:
Fill a 3 qt. pan half full of water, bring to a boil, lower to simmer & add 1/2 tsp Cinnamon. Let simmer uncovered 20-30 minutes, turn burner off, and let sit til cool. (Many Real Estate agents do this to make a house seem more 'warm & inviting'.)

To freshen drains:
Pour cool Cinnamon water (from above) down drain; or pour 'old' Cinammon into drain & flush with hot tap water for several seconds.
Note: while it may take several years for a spice to lose it's odor, it can begin to lose potency within 3-6 months. It's also recommended to store any spice away from direct light, heat, & humidity.

Pest control:
Whether by itself or mixed with Cayenne, Cinnamon helps repel ants and other bugs. (Simply sprinkle a thick layer on/around areas of infestation.)

My personal favorite 'Cinnamon' recipe, see directly below Reader Request.

Reader Request: Please take a few seconds to share, in the Comment Box below, what you know about Cinnamon. This can be anything from using it to brush your teeth to a recipe. Other readers appreciate this, and so do I! I post a public MAHALO (thanks) and/or link (on both Facebook & Twitter) back to those who leave good comments, suggestions, and/or recipes.

Spiced Rice
2 c liquid (this can be: water, chicken or vegetable broth, plain/unsweetened soy, rice, almond, or coconut milk)
1 c rice (long or short grain; brown or Jasmine is best)
3/4 tsp Cinnamon
1/4 tsp Nutmeg
1/8 tsp Ground Ginger
1/8 tsp each Cumin and Turmeric (or 1/4 tsp mild powered curry blend)
pinch of Saffron threads (optional)

Options: Spices can be increased/decreased to personal taste. Cumin and Turmeric can be substituted with other spices such as Cardamom, Allspice, Corriander, Cayenne, Chili/Taco blend, or Five Spice. Common add-ins are 1/2 cup of: raisins, currants, dried cranberries, Goji berries, shredded carrots, baby peas, drained crushed pineapple, shredded coconut, or chopped nuts. (Any of these can be added individually or your favorites mixed together for a more unique signature dish. If concerned about over cooking fruit/nuts simply add them right before serving.)

Put the 2 cups liquid in 3 qt. pan and bring to a boil. (Milk of any kind can burn on high/medium high, so stir if necessary.) As soon as liquid comes to a boil add rice, spices, and add-ins (if desired) & turn heat down to simmer. Cover and let simmer (without stirring) for about 35 - 40 minutes, or until rice is done. When done, stir to blend ingredients (if needed), then serve.

This dish goes well with any type of cuisine - American, Asian, Indian, Mexican, and even Greek & Italian*. Leftover Spiced Rice can be used as breakfast cereal, stuffed into baked squash, fried, added to meatloaf, made into fruit & rice salad, or rice pudding. It can also be cooled & drizzled with chocolate sauce or frozen to use another time, as it's great reheated. (*Substitute Greek or Italian spices for Cumin/Turmeric, add 2 cloves crushed garlic and 1/2 cup chopped olives.)

Note: Cinammon is a pungent and warming spice, therefore too much can affect certain sensitive individuals, including children. Areas usually involved are: the mouth, esophogus, stomach, intestinal tract, and liver. Besides using smaller amounts, it's generally suggested to drink dairy or vegetarian milk, rather than water, to soothe the burning/irritating sensation.


References: www.wikipedia.org, www.webmd.com, www.healthinfo.com, and www.nih.gov

This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, treat, or cure any known or unknown disease.

All rights reserved. All blogs and photos on this site are copyrighted, and may not be stored, retrieved, copied, or sold in any form without express permission.


The information contained on this site is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, treat, or cure. Nor is it intended to replace the advice of your primary care provider. No liability is assumed by the owner of this site, the author, or editor for the use or misuse of the information contained herein.

Quirks

A little over two years ago I received a call from one of my sisters asking if I could help with our Mom. Her recent health issue wasn't critical, however, my sister couldn't shake a funny feeling she had about Mom.

While Mom had received good medical care, it was obvious she was different. One thing quickly flowed into another, and in September of this year she passed away.

Mom was intelligent, witty, artistic, loved nature, pickin' rocks, and had a great sense of humor. She was passionate about her flowers and birds and her yard overflowed with them. She had a 'travel bug' and had been all over the U.S., taken numerous trips to Canada, as well as toured Europe and Australia.

Her other "quirks", included being anxious; obsessive/compulsive; open, yet secretive, controlling, judgmental, co-dependant; and very fearful about her own death. Mom also had what she referred to as 'Scarlett O'Hara Syndrome' (I'll do it tomorrow) and great difficulty in letting go of things.

For whatever reasons, we've had members in every generation with mild to severe symptoms of these other denser quirks. Regardless of backgrounds or experiences, it's common during/after the passing of a close family member, to have a whole host of family and/or individual quirks show up. And it was common knowledge Mom had witnessed some doozies, as she used to say, especially those of her siblings when her parents passed.

Even though the doctors and Hospice had good information and were appropriately compassionate, my brother decided to Google certain things. He would then call with the highlights. This simple, yet liberating, act allowed us to openly talk about what was occurring with Mom, rather than repeat old family patterns.

Mom never wanted to "end up in the hospital or nursing home, have strangers taking care of her, or be alone at the end". As I sat next to her bed as she left her body, I was glad she was finally able to let go. I was also grateful she'd known she was in her own home and not alone. (She 'didn't want a houseful', so everyone else was nearby at my sisters.)

Afterward she was dressed in her late summer travel clothes. Her purse contained a replica passport and favorite sunglasses so she had all she needed for her final trip. And I know she would've laughed over the adventure that ensued in getting her to her destination in Oregon.

So, bless you Mom, and all your quirks. They made you the interesting person you were. Without your quirks we wouldn't have all these stories to tell...or the things in us that we can change or improve. So see, you do live forever.

Photo in this blog: one of my Mom's favorite Giant Red Amaryllis

Gratitude to:
my brother & sisters - for your unique variations of Mom's sense of humor
my sister-in-law - for all you did for Mom, plus your make up artistry
my daughter, other family & friends - for your love, support, prayers, cards, & etc.
Hospice of North Idaho - for your quick response and valuable support
Merv - for being Mom's best male friend
Anne - Mom's step Mom, for being her best female friend, defender, and confidant
Ewam - the garden of 1000 Buddhas, Arlee, Montana - for graciously accepting the numerous boxes of plants donated from Mom's personal garden, thereby allowing all the animals, birds, and visitors to enjoy her beloved flowers for years to come

Note: next blogs will be: IN YOUR CUPBOARD - GOOD FOR YOU

Maintaining Lymphatic Health

This photo is one I took of my good friend, Scott Carlson*, this past summer near Burlington, Iowa.



Scott is a phenomenal therapist, so we've had many health related conversations, including the Lymphatic System. And since it's close to spring detoxification time, I thought it would be good to write about this important subject.

While most people know about their Lymphatic System, here's a quick run through for those who don't, or want to know a bit more. Plus there's also some easy self help suggestions.

Glands, organs, and tissues involved: spleen, liver, bladder, kidneys, bone marrow, appendix, Peyers Patches in the large intestine, cysterna chyli, thymus, adenoids, tonsils, skin, and lots of lymphatic vessels, ducts, nodes & valves.

Associated meridians: Spleen, Liver, Large Intestine, Triple Warmers, Urinary Bladder, Kidney, Central, Governing, and Belt. (The Belt meridian is an "extraordinary one" that encircles the waist, from right to left, and works to facilitate the flow of energy from the lower to upper body.)

Little known item: the Lymphatic System is said to relate to allowing Divine Will (or whatever name you call the life force that animates matter on any level) to process things for us. The associated emotions are listed as joy and sorrow/grief.

Factoids: the Lymphatic System is connective tissue, drains towards mid abdomen, needs muscle movement to move properly through the body, filters as much blood as the liver, is slightly alkaline (ph 7.5), and plays a major role in immunity.

Many of the smaller, almost paper thin vessels, ducts, nodes, & valves cluster near, or around joints. Inactivity, continuous restriction/pressure, and/or chemistry imbalances can cause a whole host of symptoms. These can range from edema or lymphedema, to congestion, local or full body infections, and so on.

The Lymphatic System also plays a huge role in whether cancer metastasizes or not. If it isn't trapped & destroyed in lymph nodes ( especially under the arms), it can and does spread.

Things to help support the Lymphatic System: water (lymph fluid is mostly H2O), moderate exercise, proper rest, massage (especially Lymphatic Massage), Reiki** or other good energy work, a balanced diet, properly fitting clothing, skin brushing, and lymphatic pumping.

Supporting foods and herbs are: alkaline fruits, veggies, and grains (especially cruciferous veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, etc., and millet, amaranth, & quinoa), pectin (found in apples & helps remove heavy toxins), fenugreek, sage, dandelion, marshmallow, and hibiscus.

Skin brushing is done with a natural bristle brush designed to exfoliate the skin & help remove toxins.*** It's done on dry skin, starting at the extremities (front, back & sides of the body) beginning with the feet & brush up the leg/s & towards the center of the torso, and ending at the mid abdomen. Then start with the hand/s, brush up the arm/s to shoulders. The chest is brushed from the breast bone towards the arm pits. The stomach and back are usually brushed in circles, from right to left.

Lymphatic pumping is a basically an armpit squeeze. One hand is placed with the thumb (tip towards top of shoulder) on the crease between the chest and arm. Place the fingertips (especially the middle fingertip) on the side of the chest, where a side seam would be. Simply squeeze the thumb & fingers towards each other several times.

This Lymphatic Pump can be done on one, or both armpits. However, it may be a ticklish or tender area, so remember to only use moderate pressure and not overdo. (Therapists can also do this on clients by using the fingertip pads of both hands & pumping towards the center of the armpit/axilla.)

* Scott Carlson can be found at: www.facebook.com (his profile pix is the awesome black knight & war horse)

** For a simple/anyone can do, yet effective REIKI treatment for the Lymphatic System, go to: www.ubereiki.com

*** skin brushes can be found in health food stores, online, spas & occasionally at discount stores & have an ergonomic handle for ease of use

Sources: www.wikipedia.org, www.emedicine.com, www.webmd.com, www.nih/nhl.gov, and www.howthingswork.com

This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, treat, or cure any known or unknown disease.

All rights reserved. All blogs and photos on this site are copyrighted, and may not be stored, retrieved, copied, or sold in any form without express permission.


The information contained on this site is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, treat, or cure. Nor is it intended to replace the advice of your primary care provider. No liability is assumed by the owner of this site, the author, or editor for the use or misuse of the information contained herein.

Chemistry - Made easy for health & well being!

Oh no, not chemistry!! Didn't we learn in school how difficult and confusing this could be? Well, yes, however chemistry is so important to us, - especially for our health and well being. So with that in mind, here's some basics, plus suggestions on how to balance and harmonize our "chemistry".

Like all other things, I find an uncomplicated definition always helps, so here's what chemistry is basically defined as.

Chemistry - the study of not only the composition, properties, and structure of matter, but also the behavior of energy and matter on both the physical and unseen levels. (my italics)

Interesting factoids - chemistry, as a science, grew out of alchemy (Arabic meaning "value"). There's more types of chemistry than you can shake the proverbial stick at, including the chemistry of our body and energy. And most of us know about chemistry related to our blood, saliva, ph, and so on, as well as energy related to things like the sun, stars, or nuclear energy.

However, how many of us can say we know much about the behavior part of chemistry? Answer is, we all do. All chemicals (molecules/atoms) behave in certain ways - attract/repel, have electrical charges, & etc. This is one of the main reasons there is constant change in our body and/or subtle energy fields.

In my field (body/energy work, nutrition, etc.) many of my colleagues and I endeavor to balance the body and energy fields to help our clients feel better. However, there is little, if any, focus on specifically balancing and harmonizing the chemistry of the body or it's energetic systems.

I feel this is unfortunate, as even doctors know the importance of, and provide various treatments/medicines to balance our chemistry, especially when we're ill. However, I'm the kind of person who likes preventative and supportive things, so there is less of an opportunity for an imbalance to occur in the first place.

So this past year (and especially recently) I've been including various chemistry balancing techniques in my practice. This has included everything from certain massage techniques to Reiki.

We also hear and talk about our "chemistry" with another person, but how many can say the same about chemistry with money, job/work, or community? Again, I feel/think if we included balancing/harmonizing our chemistry with all aspects - physical, non physical, goals, and so on, our lives could be even that much more richer and fulfilling.

Much of our chemistry can be balanced simply by drinking enough water, eating a balanced diet, exercising moderately, proper rest, and doing focused affirmations*. And if you want to go further in depth with balancing your chemistry, try some of the Reiki self help suggestions.** (see below)

There's also the option of visiting a therapist or energy worker who knows how to work with the specific areas of the body/energy fields or assist with affirmations.

Just remember - good (balanced) chemistry equals good health and well being!

* focused affirmations are like those used in The Law of Attraction or The One Command. When done correctly, these types of affirmations work specifically with the subconscious and/or deeper states of brain waves, rather than the surface/hit or miss effects of regular affirmations.

** On my Reiki web site, www.uberreiki.com, I just posted a blog with 8 simple Reiki hand positions for harmonizing the blood chemistry, that anyone can do.

Sources: www.wikipedia.org, www.emedicine.com, www.webmd.com, www.nih/nhl.gov, and www.howthingswork.com

This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, treat, or cure any known or unknown disease.

All rights reserved. All blogs and photos on this site are copyrighted, and may not be stored, retrieved, copied, or sold in any form without express permission.


The information contained on this site is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, treat, or cure. Nor is it intended to replace the advice of your primary care provider. No liability is assumed by the owner of this site, the author, or editor for the use or misuse of the information contained herein.

Colon Polyps - Colon Health, part 3

Colon polyps are, a most people know, small growths in the lining inside the large intestine. They've gained a lot of attention the last decade or so, due to their relation to colon cancer.

So exactly what is a polyp? As mentioned above, it's a small growth of tissue that can be smooth/flat, saw tooth, or even look like cauliflower. The most common types are hyperplastic (saw tooth) or adenomas (cauliflower looking). The third kind is referred to as polyosis syndrome (osis meaning condition of), or having certain other hereditory conditions that cause raised or flat polyps to occur, and/or become cancerous.

Any type of polyp can become cancerous, especially if the diet is high in certain types of fat (the so called bad fats) and low in fiber. Dehydration, alcoholism, eating disorders, prolonged bouts of constipation or diarrhea, diverticulitis, Chron's, or Celiac's also stress and/or interfer with the colon's ability to function properly. Chronic stress and inflammation are influences as well.

Currently age is considered the biggest factor regarding why polyps become cancerous, mainly due to dietary and life style influences. Research has shown that the risk increases after the age of 40, which is why it's recommended for middle aged adults and seniors to have regular colonoscopies.

Inherited factors do increase the liklihood of a polyp becoming cancerous, especially if you have a "first family member" (immediate relative like parents, siblings, aunt/uncle, etc.) that has had colon cancer. Race/nationality isn't really considered important, however African Americans are slightly more at risk than other groups.

Certain medications can both increase or slow the growth of polyps. (Check with your doctor or go online to find these). Research does indicate aspirin can slow the process of a pre-cancerous polyp from turning into cancer; however, it's not a recommended therapy/treatment, due to the side effects.

Unfortunately any signs or symptoms of having colon polyps usually are so insignificant that most people don't realize they have them until it's too late. Abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, indigestion, narrowing of stool, bowel obstructions, etc., can be attributed to many other things, and doesn't always mean a polyp has become cancerous.

However, if any of these signs or symptoms occur for over a week, or there is blood in the stool, anemia, or unusual abdominal pain, it's highly recommended to be examined. When the colonoscopy (light tube used to examine the inside of the colon) is performed, polyps can not only be looked at, they can also be removed. This can prove to not only be an overall healthy preventative measure, it can also save lives.

Self help things are, of course, being hydrated and eating a well balanced diet that includes plenty of fiber and cruciferous vegetables. (These are cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, etc. They support the immune system, and are natural anti-inflammatories.) Other natural immune boosters and anti- inflammatories are supplements like vitamins C and E, and bioflavinoids like Quercetin or Pycnogenol. Decompressing frequently also helps, as stress increases inflammation even in polyps.

Colon cancer is preventable, and very treatable. Proper medical check ups, a healthy balanced diet, and polyp removal are all very viable ways to protect our colon, and overal health and well being.

Sources: www.wikipedia.org, www.mayoclinic.com, www.emedicine.com, www.emedicine.medscape.com, www.gihealth.com and www.uptodate.com

This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, treat, or cure any known or unknown disease.

All rights reserved. All blogs and photos on this site are copyrighted, and may not be stored, retrieved, copied, or sold in any form without express permission.


The information contained on this site is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, treat, or cure. Nor is it intended to replace the advice of your primary care provider. No liability is assumed by the owner of this site, the author, or editor for the use or misuse of the information contained herein.

Auto Intoxication - Colon Health, part 2

As the name implies, Auto (self) intoxication (state of toxcicity) means the body is so full of toxins that one can, and does, feel very ill.

AI can be caused by numerous things. The most common of these are: dehydration, being overly acidic, constant emotional upsets, eating too fast/much, certain medications, harsh cleanses, and Ileocecal Valve Syndrome. (Ileocecal pronounced ill e o seekal.)

Ileocecal Valve Syndrome is considered one of the biggest culprits of AI. It occurs when the valve between the end of the small intestine and beginning of the large intestine is open. This allows undigested matter and toxins to escape back into the small intestine, which is very harmful not only to the small intestine, but the whole body as well.

Symptoms of AI include: headaches, bad breath, gas, constipation and/or diarrhea, chest, arm and low back pain, allergies, ringing in the ears, itching, blood pressure changes, mood swings, sleep disturbances, and dementia, plus a whole host of other imbalances. People with AI can also be as high as 80% acidic, making it very difficult to restore the ph balance of the body's fluids, especially the lymph and blood.

Treatments for AI vary from standard medical ones such as antibiotics, diuretics, anti-inflammatories,etc., to natural remedies such as homeopathy, supplements, massage, or energy work. A change in diet is also recommended to one that is well balanced and consumed in 4 - 6 smaller meals a day, with plenty of water, tea, or fresh vegetable juices. And of course, decompressing frequently can be of benefit, too.

Concerning body and energy work for AI. Chiropractic is the most recommended, then Swedish, Lymphatic, and/or Visceral massage. (Deep Tissue is not recommended to begin with, as this may cause a healing crisis by moving the toxins through the body faster than it can handle.) Visceral (abdominal) massage requires specific training, so always make sure to ask your therapist before considering this type of massage.

Almost any type of good energy work, such as Reiki, Therapeutic Touch, Quantum Healing, Reflexology, and Cranial Sacral are very good for AI. And this is especially true for children or anyone who is overly sensitive or very toxic, as these modalities allow the body to gently come back to balance.

It's estimated that over 90% of the world's population has some form of AI, however it's both very preventable and treatable. Making sure your digestive tract is in good working order also ensures the rest of your body does as well.


Sources: www.wikipedia.org, www.webmd,com, www.psychcentral.com, www.healing.about.com, and www.adam.com

This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, treat, or cure any known or unknown disease.

All rights reserved. All blogs and photos on this site are copyrighted, and may not be stored, retrieved, copied, or sold in any form without express permission.


The information contained on this site is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, treat, or cure. Nor is it intended to replace the advice of your primary care provider. No liability is assumed by the owner of this site, the author, or editor for the use or misuse of the information contained herein.

Leaky Gut Syndrome - Colon Health, part 1

This 3 part blog series is dedicated to my Uncle Bill, who had both pre-cancerous and cancerous polyps. The cancer has affected his liver, bladder, and now his pancreas. Thank you for your humor and determination to let everyone know your story before the cancer takes you away. (Colon Health, part 3 will be on polyps.)

Leaky Gut Syndrome (also known as Increased Intestinal Permeability) affect millions of people, many of whom don't recognize it, or realize how it affects their health.

LGS is defined as a disorder where the large intestine/colon wall doesn't have the integrity to keep undigested particles and toxins inside and proccessed/released normally. Instead they escape out into the body, affecting the surrounding tissues and organs, and quickly compromise our overall well being.

Babies have more permabeability (leakage) than older children or adults. This is generally due to the small physical size of babies and how their bodies receive and process nutrients before and after birth.

Contributing factors are inherited tendencies, health of both parents when the child was conceived, health/diet of the mother, and any prescription or over the counter medications taken during the pregnancy. Also, after the baby is born, they may not get the nutrients (even if nursed) needed for continued building/growth and functioning of the digestive tract.

After babies, almost twice as many women as men have LGS. Reasons for this are women tend to naturally have a slightly weaker immune system than men, take more medicines for health related issues (so we don't pass them to our children), and so on. Men, however are now realizing many of their health problems are related to LGS, so much so that even "Men's Health" and "Men 4 Health" have mentioned it in their articles.

The most common causes of LGS are: antibiotics, NSAIDS (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), excess wheat or dairy products, cytotoxic drugs (chemo/cancer treatments), alcohol, over growth of Candida (yeast infections), parasites, infections (including fungal), stress, and lack of water and proper nutrients in the diet. And in some people their Ilocecal Valve (ICV) is also stuck open, producing more LGS and auto-intoxication symptoms. (Auto-intoxication is the next blog in this series on Colon Health.)

Hallmark symptoms of LGS are: inflammation, irritability, tenderness/swelling in the lower right abdomen*, gas, indigestion, constipation, diarrehea, allergies, headaches, and so on. It's also a known fact that the liver of people with LGS works almost twice as hard to filter the toxins that escape out into to the blood stream.

When the liver is overworked, our immune system also goes into overdrive, causing it to attack our body in every place the toxins have lodged, producing inflammation.** This has led many to believe that LGS has a direct bearing on autism, MS, fibromylagia, lupus, chronic fatigue, and even cancer. And many researchers and doctors also feel LGS, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Chron's Disease, and Celiac Disease are all interrelated.

While some doctors may prescribe anti-inflammatories and other meds for LGS, the most common way to treat it is naturally. This includes being properly hydrated, eating foods high in fiber, and substituting or avoiding foods that contain wheat, dairy, or have a high sugar or alcohol content.

Supplements used to support the colon so the walls can rebuild are: Essential Fatty Acids (EFA's), probiotics (acidophilus), B12, Gamma Oryzanol, Magnesium, Glutathione, and Glutamine. Note: anyone sensative to MSG, maltodextrin or other glutamate deravitives may not want to use Glutamine.

* not to be confused with the appendix (also located in the same area as the ICV), when appendicitis occurs there is also an elevated white blood count & slight fever
** it's now said that inflammation is either the root cause or biggest contributing factor to almost every disorder and/or disease known

Note: many people with LGS are also sensitive to artificial sweetners, such as Nutrasweet (aspartame) and Splendid (sucralose), so be cautious with these, or use a natural plant non sugar sweetner such as Stevia or the new one made from chicory. (Stevia can even be found everywhere from health food stores to Wal-Mart. Both Stevia and chicory sugar is very sweet so start with small amounts, and increase to desired taste.)

Sources: www.wikipedia.org, www.seniormag.com, www.holistichealth.com, www.hmedicine.com, www.webmd.com, www.womentowomen.com, and "Textbook of Natural Medicine", Joe Pizzorno, ND, 2005.

This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, treat, or cure any known or unknown disease.

All rights reserved. All blogs and photos on this site are copyrighted, and may not be stored, retrieved, copied, or sold in any form without express permission.


The information contained on this site is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, treat, or cure. Nor is it intended to replace the advice of your primary care provider. No liability is assumed by the owner of this site, the author, or editor for the use or misuse of the information contained herein.

You're So Sweet!! (D-Ribose)

Sugar - something we'all like - even when it's gotten a bad rap. However, there's a very valid, innate reason our bodies like sugar, and why we have a "sweet tooth". This is because we're wired to use sugar for ATP (energy production) and make/use oxygen, among other things. However, there's a whole lot more to the story, especially about D- Ribose.

One is, D- Ribose is star stuff. That's right. It's precursor (ancestor) is a sugar called glycolaldehyde, found in the center of our Milky Way. This startling discovery verified what former famous astronomer, Carl Sagan, meant when he said "We're all star stuff."

Finding a "sugar" in the center of the Milky Way had profound implications. These ranged from how it was involved with making stars, the galaxy, light, oxygen, proteins, energy, and etc., right on down to human RNA. (DNA might contain all the proteins/info on how to replicate things, but RNA tells DNA how to do the job.)

We now know D-Ribose does all these things, and maybe even more. And while Ribose isn't considered "essential" (because our body can make it from glucose), many people do have an imbalance with it. This is evident by those who have: metabolic sugar errors (diabetes, hypoglycemia); don't eat a balanced diet that contains enough fruits and vegetables; are in starvation mode; fasting; have an illness; or taking meds that interfere with glucose metabolism.

So what to do? One, make sure you eat a balanced diet that contains several servings of fruit/veggies per day. The second option is (after consulting your primary care provider, local nutrition consultant, or doing a bit of research), take a D-Ribose supplement. (Caution: D-Ribose also occurs naturally in "nutritional yeast", plus Ribose supplements are from fermented corn syrup. If you are sensitive to either of these, you may want avoid them & eat a bigger variety of fruit/veggies instead.)

Athletes take D-Ribose to help with recovery time after hard training sessions, or major events. In the past, it's been questioned if, or how much Ribose helps athletes, but since we now know it's involved with energy production, oxygen utilization, and protein synthesis, it's obvious to see why they do. (Plus it's not a steroid.) More importantly, though, research has shown D-Ribose to help with other, more serious health challenges/imbalances.

These are: congestive heart failure, fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, allergies and asthma (and other breathing/oxygen related disorders), and DNA/RNA disorders. Interestingly enough, most of these involve either oxygen, protein, or endurance problems. Research is also looking into other health imbalances/dis-eases to see how much D-Ribose can play a part in treating them.

These range from treating bacterial infections to cancer, or other viruses. And it would stand to reason that D-Ribose can be a part of the treatment, based on what is already know about it. (Even though D-Ribose is considered natural, it's very important that anyone with any health imbalance/dis-ease consult their primary care provider before taking it.)

So this is why we're all so sweet, and like sweet things. It's because all of us have this natural cosmic sugar in each and every cell in our body, and it's in our nature to replenish it to live. This isn't to encourage over indulging in sugar, but instead to see that we get the good healthy sugar/s we need, and let our "Cosmic star light" shine.

References: www.wikipedia.org, www.wikianswers.com, www.webmd.com, www.howstuffworks, www.nasa.gov, www.healthinfo.com, and www.nih.gov


This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, treat, or cure any known or unknown disease.

All rights reserved. All blogs and photos on this site are copyrighted, and may not be stored, retrieved, copied, or sold in any form without express permission.


The information contained on this site is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, treat, or cure. Nor is it intended to replace the advice of your primary care provider. No liability is assumed by the owner of this site, the author, or editor for the use or misuse of the information contained herein.

Fear - What We Can Do

Is there really anything we can do about fear, especially since it's an innate part of us? The answer is yes.

The first thing is to know what fear is. Research and experience shows the more we understand something, the less stress we have. Originally, many native cultures believed if you could name something, you owned it. In other words, it didn't own/control you, which is a very valuable concept we can still use today.

Second, ask if the fear is yours, or someone else's. Fear can be both inherited (memory imprints from our ancestors) and learned. Does it serve a purpose? Is it really protecting (or limiting) you? Is/was a choice being made out of/from fear? Is there anything else you can learn or do, that'll make the fear easier to deal with?

Suggestions: practice some simple scenarios that include a safety valve/positive solution of some kind, like self defense classes, watching a tv program or researching what ever is causing the fear. (This way you can limit the exposure until your confidence/ability is where you'd like it to be.)

Third, start with your children. (If you don't have children/they're no longer home, start with your self.) Healthy input includes non judgmental age appropriate comments, conversations, and behavior about fear.

This can be anything from physically looking under the bed/in the closet while verbally reassuring there's no boogey man, to using nightlights, sayin what your fear(s) were, how you dealt with them, and what you learned along the way. Let your kids and others know it's okay to talk about fear, fearful things/situations, and what to do.

Fourth, use the physical basics to help your mind and body recognize and process fear. These are: good food, adequate rest, correct amounts of water, supplements, moderate exercise, and body/energy work. Also seek professional help, if needed.

A good diet aids the body, mind, and senses in maintaining balance and the ability to properly process any stimulus, whether supporter or stressor. Rest lets us reset our chemicals, glands, organs, and muscles. Hydration keeps the body lubricated, (so we don't tear tissue when moving too fast), and removes toxins like cortisol (the death hormone) that's released in huge amounts when we're scared/stressed.

Supplements like B vitamins, magnesium, and potassium enablethe body to send, receive, and process chemical/electrical information quickly, especially for fight or flight. Moderate exercise and body/energy work both relax us, neutralize/release toxins, and speed the body's recovery from fear based memories.

Common fear storage areas/zones are: temples, neck, shoulders, back, hands, knees, and feet. Other areas are the mind, chest/heart, and digestive tract. However, the majority of the time fear is felt/experienced/stored in our Psoas ("fight or flight" muscles)*. When our Psoas is affected by fear we experience "gut reaction" (tightening to protect our core), short/long term low back/kidney/adrenal pain, unstable core, strain in other muscles, and/or inability to move/raise our legs properly.

Seeking professional medical or holistic help is very beneficial as well. Counseling, and/or balancing the body/mind/emotional processes, can be a huge first step in dealing with fear. People who've done this report a renewed sense of well being and other improvements in their overall quality of life.

*The edges of both the left & right Psoas can be found by lying on your back, with knees bent, and feet flat on floor or massage table. Place your finger tips just inside the ASIS (front top curve of the pelvis).

Roll/push finger tips gently towards the vertical midline of the lower abdomen, while flexing your hips to curve your abdomen in about an inch or two. The Psoas will tighten slightly, & you can then feel these outer edges.

Caution: arteries & veins, as well as sensitive digestive organs, are in the lower abdomen/pelvis, so don't "dig", when palpating/feeling for the Psoas. (See Psoas blog for further information.)



Sources: www.wikipedia.org, www.nlm.nih.gov, www.symptomfind.com, www.answers.com, www.webmd.com, www.howstuffworks.com and www.mentalhealthsamhsa.gov


All rights reserved. All blogs and photos on this site are copyrighted, and may not be stored, retrieved, copied, or sold in any form without express permission.


The information contained on this site is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, treat, or cure. Nor is it intended to replace the advice of your primary care provider. No liability is assumed by the owner of this site, the author, or editor for the use or misuse of the information contained herein.

Fear - The Society of Fear

Every society, from the beginning of time, on down to our own, has had not only their citizen's individual or personal fear(s), but also community/regional and cultural fears as well.

So how does a society of fear happen?

First, fear is an innate mechanism to protect us. If we didn't have it, we simply wouldn't survive very long. Second, a part of the brain (the amygdala) works to process our emotions. This information then gets stored indefinitely as memories, as well as encoded in our DNA.

Our ancestors learned how to suppress and/or overcome fear, as well. (i.e. - stomp on the spider, avoid dangerous places, or act/be unafraid via peer pressure or reason.)

Fear can also produce a "high", leading to a distorted sense of power. This can, and has, made people think, feel, and believe they can do anything, including controlling others. Numerous examples of this can be found past and present.

Former National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski said it best "The 'War on Terror' was intended to generate a culture of fear deliberately because it obscures reason, intensifies emotions, and makes it easier for demagogic politicians to mobilize the public on behalf of the policies they want to pursue."*

This statement pretty well sums up why fear is used for getting a society to be a certain way. Those with control issues use the common fears of pain, war/fighting, loss, and death. However, what's behind all of these is the biggest and deepest fear of all: fear of the unknown. "What if" never has a guaranteed solution, so psychologically, fear can be used long term.

Promoting fear is still used daily, worldwide. There may be truth in many of the situations occurring, however too many of us take at face value what's being said/promoted, rather than taking time to ask questions, or make educated choices.

As our language, technology, and awareness has changed/increased, those who promote fear have gotten more creativ as well. This can be seen especially with things like Astroturfing and Psychographics.

Astroturfing: hiring fake grassroot, including virtual/online, supporters. Also publishing film footage, and/or photos, to sway non supporters.

Psychographics: studying profiles. IAO (interest/activities/opinions) questionnaire. Also polled: attitudes, values, personality, and lifestyle. Info is used to both create the next gotta have item and determine our sense of security/stability.

Fear is an integral part of who and what we, as humans, are. It has been in our societies from the beginning, and still is. However, this doesn't mean we have to hypnotized or ruled by it. When we change, so does our societies, communities, and world.

Part three covers the interesting ways/places we store fear, as well as suggestions for things we can do.

* www.wikipedia.org

Sources: www.wikipedia.org, www.nlm.nih.gov, www.symptomfind.com, www.answers.com, www.webmd.com, www.howstuffworks.com and www.mentalhealthsamhsa.gov


All rights reserved. All blogs and photos on this site are copyrighted, and may not be stored, retrieved, copied, or sold in any form without express permission.


The information contained on this site is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, treat, or cure. Nor is it intended to replace the advice of your primary care provider. No liability is assumed by the owner of this site, the author, or editor, related to use or misuse of any information contained herein.

Fear - What It Is & Family Members

Just like the maze in this photo, fear is something located within the very center of who we are. Many people find their way in, and/or out, while the majority don't.

Fear is as an "emotional response to a threat*". And since we also come with an innate ability to avoid danger (fight or flight), and have higher senses (sight, touch, smell, hearing, speech & thought) a threat can also be learned.

Originally "fear" meant the event (calamity/disaster) itself, then eventually came to mean the emotional reaction. This probably came about because of observation of the different way people's natural preparedness kicked in to not only present, but to perceived future events, as well. And interestingly enough, fear is now also described as always relating to a "future" event. In other words, our most innate fear, or fear of the unknown (what's going to happen).

So that's what fear is. It's family members are similar, yet different, (like all families) and they are:

Caution: (father) - the ability to take in all the information and proceed carefully. Distrust is sometimes a brother to caution.

Worry: (mother) - the aspects (mental and/or emotional) of a present or future event.

Dread: (oldest) - to anticipate something with fear. "Murphy's Law", if something's going to happen, it will/is not good.

Anxiety: (middle child) - both a psychological (mental/emotional) and physiological (body) response/reaction to a threat. Usually this is from an undefined threat. Can't put your finger on it, but feel/think something isn't quite right.

Panic: (fraternal twin to anxiety)- an acute (right now/immediate) sudden fear, whether the source of the fear is known or not. Panic is describe as "acute anxiety".

Terror: (grandparents) - sudden & pronounced fear before an event occurs. Many times this is what we "see" right at the beginning of something, and/or know that we may have any immediate control over what's started to happen.

Horror: (grandchildren) - shock, disbelief, & mental/emotional detachment after the event.

Phobia: (youngest) - excessive desire to avoid something. Even if the person knows the source of their fear, since it's something "not them" (as with the child learning what's self & not self), it's to be feared. There may or may not be other imbalances associated with phobias. (See parts 2 & 3.)

Paranoia: (wild child) - excessive, and many times, uncontrollable thought process about the unknown, that results in the belief of some kind of harm happening. Paranoia can happen to any one (and not just those chemically unbalanced) for a variety of reasons. And, unfortunately this include societal programming. (See Parts 2 & 3.)

Paranoia is also difficult to treat, as no matter how good the gene pool, support, and etc., this imbalance can occur anytime (short or long term) to anyone. Fortunately, research into the brain, nervous system, and mapping how the energetic systems of the body work, is providing new insight and ways to treat paranoia.

Fear is a two edged knife, as the saying goes. It can be a motivator to cut through illusion, or harm our selves and/or others. For the majority of us/humans, we have the ability to educate our selves about fear, and then choose how to deal with it.

In this 3 part series: Part Two - The Society of Fear: The interesting ways fear has been/ is used (Some you may know, some might surprise you.) Part Three: What We Can Do. How fear affects our bodies ( some common, but mostly unusual places we store fear based thoughts/feelings/memories) and some simple self help suggestions.

* www.wikipedia.org

Sources: www.wikipedia.org, www.nlm.nih.gov, www.symptomfind.com, www.answers.com, www.webmd.com, and www.mentalhealthsamhsa.gov


All rights reserved. All blogs and photos on this site are copyrighted, and may not be stored, retrieved, copied, or sold in any form without express permission.


The information contained on this site is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, treat, or cure. Nor is it intended to replace the advice of your primary care provider. No liability is assumed by the owner of this site, the author, or editor, related to use or misuse of any information contained herein.

The Psoas

The Psoas Major is a deep internal muscle attached to the front of the vertebrae. It's the true companion* to the Quadratus Lumborum. (The QL is the rectangular hinge muscle that's attached to the back of the vertebrae, ribs, and pelvis).

Also known as the Illiopsoas, it begins in the low back/lumbar vertebrae, goes through the center of the pelvis and attaches to the top end of the femur (thigh bones).

Our Psoas does a number of things, including keeping our low back stable, yet flexible, and raising our knees to our chest.

When our Psoas isn't working properly, we can, and do, have low back pain, tightness, be too flat or swayed, pulling to one side, bulging discs, and trouble raising our legs.

Many people do their work outs and stretches faithfully, in hopes of helping their low back. However, they may only get partial or short term relief. The reason this happens is that they either don't know about their Psoas, or over work their Abs.

Two things are very important for a healthy Psoas. One: maintain proper body weight excess weight and a bulging midriff strains the Psoas). Two: do exercises and stretches that target the Psoas, and/or get body/energy work by someone trained in visceral/motor/proprioceptor techniques that can help reset the Psoas.

Physical exercises that work the Psoas are the "backwards sit up" (done on a physio ball) or on a back sit up machine, and the "V" towel exercise. This is done with a towel held above the head (and parallel to the floor), so you make a "V" with your arms.

Maintain tension on the towel ends and bring the arms about a foot in front of the body, and then back. (Keep towel parallel to floor.) This effectively contracts and relaxes the Psoas as the back and pelvis moves/bends back and forth.

Good yoga stretches for the Psoas include the Cat a Downward Facing Dog. The Feldenkrais pelvic clock or even laying on a rolled up towel (that's been place horizontally under the low back) also work to stretch the Psoas.

Like other muscles, the Psoas needs enough water and Magnesium to make it contract and relax properly. Suggested daily amounts vary from 400 to 800 mg, and Magnesium is more effective when taken with dinner or at bed time.

By properly taking care of the Psoas, it protects and maintains the health of both our core and our low back.

*Companion muscles are defined as being opposite each other on a bone. (Biceps/Triceps, Quads/Hamstrings, & etc.) The Abs attach to our ribs, pelvis, pubic bone, and connective tissue. The Abs do protect our internal organs, help maintain posture, and are important front "hinge" muscles. However, this doesn't make the Abs true companions to the QL, or other back muscles.

All rights reserved. All blogs and photos on this site are copyrighted, and may not be stored, retrieved, copied, or sold in any form without express permission.


The information contained on this site is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, treat, or cure. Nor is it intended to replace the advice of your primary care provider. No liability is assumed by the owner of this site, the author, or editor, related to use or misuse of any information contained herein.

Vaccines - Part 5 - What You Can Do

The following self help suggestions can be used as preventative, short term support, or long term follow up. They're also very simple and easy to do.

First, and most important, be reasonably healthy all the time. This consists of drinking plenty of water, eating balanced meals, moderate exercise, and rest.

Second, get a copy of the vaccine handout*. Discuss it, and your medical history, with your primary care provider. The small co-pay is very inexpensive for peace of mind. Or call the local public health office, or look it up on the web.

Third, pay close attention to what your body is telling you after a vaccination. (From when you get the vaccine to as long as six weeks.)

Water - be hydrated. Tea, coffee, juice, pop, and alcohol is "food" to the body, due to the trace nutrients/substances in them. One 8 oz. glass of water (per other beverage) and 50 - 75% water in juices helps neutralize them. Better yet, put one or more bite sized pieces of frozen fruit in a glass of water. They're healthy "colorful ice cubes".

PH - acid/alkaline. Being acidic allows undesirable reactions to occur. Balance acidic foods with alkaline ones. Public libraries, nutrition books, & the web all have lists of these.

Exercise - walking works the whole body & naturally moves the blood and lymph. If you do heavy work outs, steam/sauna/pool, or deep massages/detoxing spa treatments - back off/lighten up. It's also not recommended to do a cleanse. These normally healthy things can push a vaccine through the body too fast, & produce unintentional and/or serious consequences.

Rest - if your body/mind/emotions needs a break, honor this. 99.9% of the world's population has a stressed immune system, & a vaccine makes it work even harder. Sleep, cat naps, meditation, & relaxing baths/showers all help. (Showers/baths not too hot, or over 20 minutes,- any longer can actually irritate the nervous system/body.)

Sulfur foods - broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, & etc. These support the immune system, liver & spleen, help build healthy cell walls, and rid the body of heavy metals.

Fiber - pears, apples, veggies, legumes (especially split peas) and whole grains. Bran, fiber supplements**, or apple pectin tablets can be used, too. Wheat bran does not contain wheat protein & is the only bran known to stimulate healthy bacteria growth in the gut. Apple pectin helps rid the body of toxins, especially heavy metals. The lignins in split peas also do the same.

Vitamins - A to Z, whether a daily multiple or individual nutrients. Tablets are denser & contain higher nutrient content than capsules. If a tablet (either regular or time released) snaps in half easily, it's easier to digest. (Hard to break ones don't & vinegar tests are inaccurate, as our stomach acid/gut enzymes are both acidic/alkaline.) Suggested amounts vary, per person/age/state of health.

VITAMIN C supports the immune system, detoxes the body, builds blood cells, & protects capillaries. ESTER C is the most recommended. It's water soluble, non acidic, can be taken by anyone, and/or in high amounts without producing diarrhea. Suggested amounts are 500 - 2,000 mgs per day. (It can even be found in Wal-Mart.)

Minerals - all, especially Magnesium. Mg works to produce light in our cells, relaxes the body, regulates calcium, & does about 300 enzyme functions. Recommended amounts vary from 400 - 800 mgs per day. Babies usually get what they need from mother's milk (if the mother has proper dietary amounts) & food. Children, depending on age, can require from 300 to 800 mgs per day.

Magnesium oxide (most common type) in large amounts, can produce diarrhea. (Try chelated, orotate, etc.) Mg works the best when taken with dinner/before bedtime. Known fact: over 80% of the world's population (especially women) are Mg deficient, and some people/children are even Mg depleted. This can, and does, produce mental, emotional, and physical instability.

Zinc - recommended daily amounts vary between 15 - 30 mgs. During an illness requirements can go as high as 60 mgs per day, however, too much can produce undesired effects. (Zinc can store/build up in the body.) Zinc supports the immune system, our sense of smell, taste, balance, & hearing, and allows us to perspire/sweat properly.

Bioflavinoids - come from the white inner peel of citrus fruit and buckwheat. (Buckwheat is related to rhubarb, & is not wheat.) Bioflavs are co-factors to Vit C, helping C work better, especially for immune support, blood cells, & capillaries. Recommended amount is 500 - 1500 mgs per day. Better yet, take a Vit C (Ester C) that has Bioflavs added.

Antioxidants - combination of different vitamins, minerals, trace nutrients, and/or herbs. Antios are valuable, but make sure they don't counteract or increase the effects of the vaccine ingredients.

L- Histadine - an essential (we need it daily) amino acid, that prevents cells from exploding. (Cells exploding is also known as an allergic reaction.) Histadine is already in many vaccines to help offset reactions. Suggested daily amounts vary from 500 - 5,000 mgs. Again, even though L-H is essential, consult your care provider or nutritionist before taking extra/large amounts.

Pre/probiotics - healthy bacteria (that help make enzymes, support the immune system, & detox the body) can be found in mother's milk, dairy products, & supplements. Be cautious if you have a dairy allergy, or haven't taken probiotics before. If the body is already stressed, or too much is used too quickly, it can produce gas, constipation, and/or diarrhea. Back off, and/or drink extra water.

Herbs - not recommended for at least several weeks. Herbs are great, because (1) they're a "food" and (2) a natural "medicine". However, they do have the highest risk of producing unintentional interactions/reactions with pharmaceuticals. Be safe/wise & wait the short while before using them again.

Seek immediate medical care for: swelling (injections site, neck, armpits, groin, fingers, toes, or joints), rash, loss of breath or ability to swallow (internal swelling/hives can be life threatening), & inability to focus or stay awake.

Other things to watch for are headaches (including sudden/lingering sensitivity to light or sound) lasting longer than an hour, sudden/sustained fevers or chills, strange/sharp unexplained aches/pains, and constipation or diarrhea that suddenly comes on or doesn't go away within an hour. (Babies, children, people with allergies/pre-existing health problems, & elders need to be closely monitored.)

Other support - Reiki, or other energy work, in short sessions. Support your body, so it can deal with the vaccine, rather than stressing it & going into overwhelm. Be educated, use common sense, & don't second guess about getting medical attention. These simple things can, and do, lessen reactions, prevent long term side effects, and save lives.

* every doctor, nurse, or public health care worker that gives vaccines must provide free vaccine handouts/brochures to the public

** fiber supplements must be taken with sufficient water to prevent choking, digestive disturbances, constipation, or diarrhea

Sources: www.wikipedia.org, www.webmd.com, and www.cdc.gov

All rights reserved. All blogs and photos on this site are copyrighted, and may not be stored, retrieved, copied, or sold in any form without express permission.


The information contained on this site is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, treat, or cure. Nor is it intended to replace the advice of your primary care provider. No liability is assumed by the owner of this site, the author, or editor, related to use or misuse of any information contained herein.